You inspire me on the daily, tribe. You hold planks for what feels like hours. You cheer each other on because you know how far affirmation and a “f@ck yeah” can take you. But you also know that staying committed to your healthiest life can be toughest in the summer when all the odds are against you. So in true #bariddicted fashion, many of you signed on for our bari coach program to reinforce your good habits and keep you in check during these happy hour after happy hour, vacation after vacation summer months. Just within the coach program this summer, I’ve seen pounds dropped, inches lost, body fat reduced, and let me tell you: some (toned) asses were kicked.

But it didn’t come from wishing and hoping, it didn’t come from dropping into class here and there. It came from habit.

This got me thinking. What does it feel like for a triber who is already a bari ninja to take her healthy habits to the next level? What does it feel like for a bari virgin to build healthy habits from the ground up? What does it feel like to create a brand new lifestyle out of small weekly goals?

I knew I wouldn’t fully understand it unless I did it myself. Unless I got a taste of my own medicine and put my own habits to the test. In order to answer those questions and get inside a coaching client’s head, the strategy seemed obvious: it’s time that I put myself through the bari coach program.

For the month of September, I will be following a prescription very similar to what I write out for clients with goals, class focuses and lifestyle shifts emphasizing the creation of new habits. I’ll prescribe for myself the same strategies I would use for a client who had my kind of life. Each week, I’ll report back to you on my progress.

Consider this a (not so undercover) investigation into what can really be achieved when you choose a healthy life every single day. Ready? Here’s my prescription for week one:

body
To get the most progress in the shortest amount of time, I’ve got to work my biggest muscle group: my legs and butt. The leaner these guys are, the more calories I’ll burn, so my personal focus in every single workout this week will be:

• to work an inch further every time: higher knees, lower lunges, deeper bend in the supporting leg.
• on the trampoline: to find more stability in my supporting leg during balances by deepening my knee flexion.
• during floor cardio: to use my legs as a source of power, traveling with boosted energy.
• through toning: to get lower in my knee flexion without tucking my hips, keeping the energy driving through my heels so I work my butt and not my quads.

food
I have a terrible habit of not drinking enough water. I know that the biggest measurable change I can make this week is upping my water intake. I’m going to use the app Water Logged to keep me accountable. This week, I will:

• drink 64 ounces of water a day. Eight glasses. Clear pee.
• Keep a food journal so I can see what I’m actually eating.

mind
Like a lot of our tribers, I am constantly on the go, onto the next thing, in a rush. In theory, I believe we can accomplish huge goals and execute our dreams even when we slow down and appreciate life, but in practice sometimes my energy is frenetic. However, I know my most productive moments have been because I’ve taken time for myself, so this week:

• I will meditate once a day.
• I will acknowledge each time I work out, eat clean or slow down as success.

Tune back in next week to see how I did. If you see me at the studio, ask me how it’s going. And if you’re so inclined, follow along with each weekly prescription. Here’s to starting our fall off right: choosing a healthy body and a happy life.